Waccamaw Warriors

When Burney Bourne took over Waccamaw's football program there were no public expectations to win, something that hasn't changed with the school's first playoff berth in a decade.

Many people believe 2007 was a fluke and expect the Warriors to return to mediocrity. The desire to prove them wrong provides daily motivation for those inside the program.

``We've got to work that much harder than we did last year,'' linebacker Rahiem Stanley said. ``Everybody probably thought last year was a pushover for Waccamaw since we sneaked in. We want to show them that we earned that last year and we were meant to be there.''

Waccamaw returns 16 starters, meaning the expectations within the program are higher.

``We're very excited,'' Bourne said. ``We feel like we are going to be better. With the experience and quality players we have back, we can't help but be better.''

The defense, which will be built around Stanley and fellow linebacker Dennis Lee Smith, should be better. The offense likely will be, too, once less-experienced players fill the voids left by tailback Eric Sparkman and receiver Thomas Ligon.

Much of the preseason attention falls on quarterback Terron Britton, an athletic junior well suited to run Waccamaw's spread-option attack. He passed for 871 yards and rushed for 379 more as a sophomore.

Although he threw for 14 touchdowns, Britton's 17 interceptions were a concern last year. However, Bourne has been impressed with the progression the 5-foot-9, 190-pounder has made in the offseason and said his reads in the running and passing games are improving daily.

``[Britton is] much improved and much more polished,'' Bourne said. ``We feel like he's making good reads and good decisions. So far, we are pleased with his performance.''

When Burney Bourne took over Waccamaw's football program there were no public expectations to win, something that hasn't changed with the school's first playoff berth in a decade.

Many people believe 2007 was a fluke and expect the Warriors to return to mediocrity. The desire to prove them wrong provides daily motivation for those inside the program.

``We've got to work that much harder than we did last year,'' linebacker Rahiem Stanley said. ``Everybody probably thought last year was a pushover for Waccamaw since we sneaked in. We want to show them that we earned that last year and we were meant to be there.''

Waccamaw returns 16 starters, meaning the expectations within the program are higher.

``We're very excited,'' Bourne said. ``We feel like we are going to be better. With the experience and quality players we have back, we can't help but be better.''

The defense, which will be built around Stanley and fellow linebacker Dennis Lee Smith, should be better. The offense likely will be, too, once less-experienced players fill the voids left by tailback Eric Sparkman and receiver Thomas Ligon.

Much of the preseason attention falls on quarterback Terron Britton, an athletic junior well suited to run Waccamaw's spread-option attack. He passed for 871 yards and rushed for 379 more as a sophomore.

Although he threw for 14 touchdowns, Britton's 17 interceptions were a concern last year. However, Bourne has been impressed with the progression the 5-foot-9, 190-pounder has made in the offseason and said his reads in the running and passing games are improving daily.

``[Britton is] much improved and much more polished,'' Bourne said. ``We feel like he's making good reads and good decisions. So far, we are pleased with his performance.''